19th annual Tin Cup Awards sets new donation record

VICTOR, Idaho (KIFI)– The 19th annual Tin Cup Challenge in Teton Valley raised a record $4.5 million for local nonprofits and brought together donors, businesses and nonprofits to support local organizations across Teton Valley.

Dan Verbeten, the Executive Director of Teton Valley Trails and Pathways says the event serves as an opportunity to celebrate both the financial contributions and the community opportunities made possible across Teton Valley.

"The Tin Cup Challenge is a huge community fundraising event. Really helps all of the nonprofits in the community raise unrestricted funds to be able to better achieve their mission," Verbeten said.

This year's total set a new record for the highest donation amount ever raised through the initiative, surpassing the $3.8 million collected last year.

A key element of the Tin Cup Challenge is the Challenger Fund. The fund is made up of contributions from individuals or businesses that donate $1,500 or more.

The Challenger Fund provides matching grants on the first $25,000 raised by each participating organization. Money raised through the fund supports community programs including affordable housing, youth philanthropy and mental health services.

One Challenger at the event, Rose Hendricks, says the donations do more than fund the livelihoods of people who live and work in Teton Valley.

"This is a complex time. It's a dynamic time. It's a really challenging time in our society. And I think people feel isolated and divided, and there's so much partisanship. And I think events like this and community efforts like this play such a powerful role and showing us that that doesn't have to be the only truth and that we can really join together with like, minds and hearts is to make a huge difference regardless of who you are, where you come from, what your background is, what you believe,"